Random Notes And Reflections.

to be passed over , and the work of pulling down was begun in the following April . The results have been not a little startling . A terrible catastrophe has probably been averted , and far more extended works are now found to be necessary than were at first contemplated . The lantern

and piers were of the most wretched construction , the walls of the former being mainly composed of rubble and " pit mortar . " The piers had been crushed by the heavy weight of the massive Norman tower , and their cores were nothing but dust . Strong as these piers appeared to be ,

they rested on a base of small stones and loose sand ; and , what is more remarkable , only three feet lower down a solid rock might have been found . The works rendered necessary by these discoveries are of a most expensive kind , and although the subscriptions alreadv amount to nearly

£ 20 , 000 , a very much larger sum will be required in order to make the structure safe and comely . Beyond this outlay money will be necessary for tho restoration of the ohoii \ for purposes of adornment , and other important matters that cannot be detailed .

Onr esteemed brother , Bishop Magee , is now scarcely convalescent , after an alarming attack of illness , and no doubt the progress of the movement of restoration has been somewhat checked in consequence . Now that he is likely to return to his episcopal labours , a more energetic

effort will be made to raise money enough to complete the undertaking in a satisfactory manner . May we venture to point out to our rich brethren , and those who can spare of their substance , that they might aid in a movement connected so closely as it is with some of the grandest

associations of the Craft . Our Grand Master , the Prince of Wales , had promised to lay the first stone of the new works , but his engagements are so numerous that he cannot visit Peterborough for the purpose until June .

Much as the presence of His Royal Highness is desired , the work cannot be delayed for so long a period . The ceremony , therefore , will take place at an earlier date , and will , in all probability , be performed by Earl Fitzwilliam , a munificent subscriber to the movement .

Freemasons must look to their laurels . A rival has sprung up amongst them , and has actually invaded the great home of the Craft in London . Perhaps this rival is not so formidable as it looks , although it is extremely compact and select . It is a small assembly of men , eminent

in their walks of life , who have adopted a quaint name and appropriated titles , some of which are , to say the least , suspicious . They call themselves a " Sette of Odd Volumes" —very odd in name , if in nothing else . They number in all twenty-one , each with a distinctive title .

There is the Librarian , the Master of the Rolls , the Historiographer , the Alchymist , the Publisher , the Xylographer , the Leech , the Necromancer , the Auditor , the Attorney-General , the Organist , the Artificer , the Armourer , the

Antiquary , and the Herald . It only requires the Priest to complete the singular admixture . Art , trade , law , physic , music , history , mysticism , war , and blazonry are all mixed up in most admirable confusion , the outcome of which

appears to be an occasional meeting , when His Oddity , the President , is called upon " to honour the old-fashioned laws of hospitality during his year of office . " The society may be said to afford the motive for eating and drinking , for that association of kindred spirits who unbend under

the influence of the pleasures of the table . It is something more ; all the members are men who have made some mark in connection with books and printing . On the occasion of the meeting of the " Sette , " on the 1 st inst ., at the Freemasons' Tavern , Mr . Bernard Quaritch , the

Librarian , delivered an address on China , in the presence of Mr . Fung Tee , Secretary of the Chinese Legation , and other guests , including Mr . Simpson , artist , traveller , and

correspondent . The gathering was a pleasant one , in which the Necromancer , tbe Armourer , the Alchymist , and the Leech found no opportunity for the exercise of their respective arts .

<( Perhaps the occasion was hardly one upon which the ' black art " could be displayed , but the presence of

professors of mysticism ancl diablerie suggest terrible suspicions , which may lead to the revival of some of those obsolete laws touching supposed Satanic arts and devices . It may he that these secret arts and hidden mysteries are only

Random Notes And Reflections.

occasionally displayed , and as the " Sette of Odd Volumes are few in nnmber , they are safe within their limited circle . It is in contemplation , however , to enlarge the membership , and then the danger of exposure will increase . Whatever

this small conclavo may be , wo are convinced that such a clever set of bodies are not likely to be mixed up with dark divinations , and if they are , they cannot expect to rival the Craft , who have no connection whatever with his sable majesty .

Bro . Norris , the venerable Warden of the Institution at Croydon , recently attained the ripe old age of 94 , and to celebrate the event Bro . Dr . Strong gave an entertainment to the " Old Folks , " on the 24 th ult ., when a very pleasing selection of vocal and instrumental music was provided .

The programme , given below , speaks for itself , but it is right to say that the whole performance was successful , and that the concertina solo ( Mr . Drummond ) , and the violin solo ( Miss Strong ) , were encored . Bro . Terry , the Secretary to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , was

present , together with his two daughters , who rendered very efficient help and contributed much to the pleasure of the guests . It was very thoughtful and kind on the part of Bro . Dr . Strong to provide amusement for the " Old Folks , " and very generous on the part of those who so

ably assisted him ; and in order to give hononr to whom honour is due , we reproduce the programme , with the names of those who took part in its execution . Any excuse is sufficient for a good action , but in the present case the motive was a particularly genial one . Bro . Norris may be

regarded as a patriarch , his years are being fast exhausted , but while he lives he is made to feel that age rather increases than diminishes the respect and affection felt for him . His path is made all the smoother by such a

recognition as that we have recorded , which served the double purpose of paying a tribute to old age and service , and of affording a real treat to the inmates generally . The following was the programme :

Overture , "Le Diademe , " Hermann ; Song , " Golden Days , " Sullivan—Mrs . Dubois ; Quintet in F major , Reissiger ; Concertina Solo , "Luorezia Borgia , " Blagrove—Mr . A . Drummond ; Song , " Close to the Threshold , " H . Parker—Miss Owen ; Violoncello obligato—Mr . Wildman ; Quadrilles , " Semiramide , " Julien ; Song

—Miss Jessie Terry ; Valse , "Auf Wiederehen , " C . Lowthian j Song , " Swinging "—Miss Terry ; Serio-Comio Fantasia , Reviere ; Violin Solo , " Fantasie Pastorale , " Singalee—Miss Strong ; Musioal Reading—Mr . Oliver ; Song , "Kit the Cobbler , " J . L . Hatton—Mr . W . Owen ; Quadrilles , " United Service" ; " God Save the Queen . "

First Violins—Mr . Beckwith and Dr . Strong ; Second Violins—Mr . Everist and Miss Strong ; Violas—Mr . Oliver and Mr . R . Owen ; Violoncello—Mr . Wildman ; Contra Bass—Mr . W . Owen j Piano—Mrs . Strong ; Concertina—Mr . A . Drummond . Conductor—Mr . Beckwith .

There can be no question as to the value of harbours of refuge for the storm-overtaken fishermen and sailors on our coasts , but hitherto comparatively little has been done to remedy a grievous want . There is a National Refuge Harbours Society , with offices at 17 Parliament Street ,

whose efforts have done much to arouse public interest on this matter . They have held meetings in various parts of the country , and would have held more if the funds placed at their disposal had been larger . The }* have framed a petition to Parliament , which has been numerously signed ,

and on the 15 th inst . a meeting of the society will be held at the Mansion House , London , over which the Lord Mayor , Bro . R . N . Fowler , will preside , in order to invite the citizens to take part in the movement . The necessity of something being clone is proved by the fact that in one

year , taking the last official record , over one thousand persons , chiefly our own countrymen , were drowned on our coasts . Many of these lives might have been saved , to say nothing of the property , if there had been anything like the requisite number of harbours provided .

It is snersrested that convict labour might be utilised for Do CD , making harbours , instead of entering into competition with the labour market , now so much depressed . While agreeing with this suggestion , it must be remembered that such labour cannot always be used . Then there is the resource of

grants and loans , but these have not hitherto led to any great results . Other countries seem to be more alive to the necessity of providing harbours along their coasts , and what is hoped is that our own Government may be stirred up to greater efforts in the same direction . The object is a good one , and those who desire information should write to the